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A mountain biking expert who grades trails for city councils is warning that many of the country's tracks are undergraded, meaning they're actually harder than the signs suggest.
Simon Noble has graded tracks for Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman Councils and says about half the tracks he's analysed were a grade out, and some needed to change two grades. He says undergraded trails risk causing injury if riders aren't experienced enough, and once a network is regraded, it often reveals the majority of tracks are advanced and expert level, with fewer easy and intermediate trails.
Part of the issue is there is no single system being used; three different grading systems are in use across New Zealand, leading to a lack of consistency of signage. Kathryn speaks to Simon Noble recreation and tourism consultant, and Brendan Hills, chair of the Nelson Mountain Bike Club.
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